We assume that the Nordic gnomes were closely associated with trees and forests, but that they eventually attached themselves to farms and dressed like farmers in knickerbockers, clogs, undyed homespun, and red pointed hats. The barn gnome is often described as a small man with a weathered old man's face, a long gray or white beard, with only four fingers on each hand. He was tough and therefore managed well without a thumb. With the strength of 4 horses, he was good to have on the farm. The gnome took good care of all the animals (especially the horse), if he was treated well.

There is little about the Norwegian barn gnome that resembles the commercial American Santa Claus, who, draped in fur, floats through the air on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and delivers gifts on Christmas Eve. The barn gnome had nothing to do with Christmas at all in olden times, but belonged to the life of the farm, and was taken into account in everyday life. He was first linked to the Christmas tradition in the countryside because people believed he would want good food and drink on Christmas Eve. The gnome was also known to have magical powers, and could be both capricious and unpredictable, so he had to be treated well. He could play tricks and mischief and harm both humans and animals if he was not treated kindly. In many places, the table was not cleared after Christmas dinner so that the barn gnome could come and help himself. He was usually invisible, but some claim to have seen him. Even to this day, it is a tradition to put out porridge for the gnome on Christmas Eve.

In older times, there were many barn gnomes in Norway, but in modern times, many farmers were forced to move.

Farmers were often poor people with many children. Traditionally, these were supposed to help run the farms. Perhaps the children wanted to follow their own dreams and wanted to be part of modern society. Many, at least, moved to the cities.

This had fatal consequences for many farmers. Many ran out of both food and money, and eventually had to give up. Some just left the farms fully furnished. You can still find these abandoned farms in the Norwegian countryside. Cups on the table and pots on the stove, it should look as if time has stood still.

In this way, many barn gnomes became homeless. We do not know how many there are or where they live. Now we are trying to locate the entire Dahl gnome family, and these will eventually need good homes.

The barn gnome is a figure that is several thousand years old. During the Catholic period until the year 500, gnomes established themselves all over Europe, Russia, and even in Siberia. Gnomes are not very interested in historical writing (or they deliberately keep their sources hidden), so we don't have much evidence. It is mentioned in a treatise from 1580 that gnomes lived in a classless society for over 1000 years. They were neither poor nor rich, and no one was worth more than others, except for the democratically elected king.

Thank you for helping to give a home to a homeless Norwegian barn gnome